§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number if warrants reviewed by category under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. HurdThe figures for the number of interception warrants issued by the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Scotland in force on 31 December 1985 and 1986 are recorded in the table. The information was given in an annex to the report of the commissioner, the right hon. Lord Justice Lloyd, on the first year of operation of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 which was presented to Parliament in March 1987 (Cmnd. 108). I understand that the corresponding figures for 31 December 1987 are to be given in a annex to the commissioner's next annual report, which I expect my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to present to the House shortly. I do not propose to publish statistics additional to those in the commissioner's reports.
§ Mr. John PattenOur aim is to take this work forward as quickly as possible. We expect the results of this analysis to be available within the next few weeks.